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03-26-08, 02:50 PM
1989 Ford Mustang LX - Dark Shadow Boost
http://images.mustang50magazine.com/featuredvehicles/m5lp_0805_01_z+1989_ford_mustang_LX+burnout.jpgHor se Sense: Maury's LX hatchback came with the optional GT high-back buckets. Sadly, these weren't available in the notchback. I lamented this fact when I ordered my own '89 LX notch.
A properly engineered turbo setup huffing into a Ford small-block is a wondrous thing. It provides all the boost anyone would ever want without parasitic drag, while acting as an effective upstream muffler to keep things discreet-or sneaky, depending on the intended mission profile. As a trackside photographer still in possession of some hearing, I've come to appreciate the near-silent launches of turbo drag 'Stangs. After riding shotgun in Maury Moynihan's oh-so-discreet '89 LX-with not just one, but a pair of horsepower hair dryers onboard-we're happy to report that his self-engineered setup not only hits with all the force of Thor's own hammer, but it's also well-mannered while stalking the pavement of southern Ontario in the role of Maury's daily summer driver.
Maury bought the Dark Shadow Blue hatchback new when he was a mere 18 years old. Like any good gearhead, he has since put it through many permutations of displacement and power adders, yet has steadfastly maintained its innocent outward appearance. Apparently, it's not innocent enough, as testosterone-induced early antics in the LX cost him a four-year license suspension. While those days of road-going insanity are now firmly behind him (we think), Maury is still obsessed with horsepower and good ol' torque. They're both available at the mere nudge of the throttle on his stoutly underpinned 306 ci engine, that is, of course, effectively expanded to much greater displacement by the hulking turbo duet.
Let's talk about those turbos and what it took to persuade them-along with a custom intercooler and its associated plumbing-to peacefully cohabitate with the bored and beefy small-block in the limited confines of a Fox engine bay. In brief, this exercise took: 1) Maury, 2) his small home garage, and 3) a lot of time and patience. He did all the duct/exhaust fabrication in support of the pair of Garrett T3 60/63s himself.
To keep things cool, he fitted a pair of 12-inch blow-through electric fans-one of the few blow-through setups we've ever seen on a Mustang-on a Ford Racing Performance Parts aluminum radiator, mounted on a slight angle to a custom, relocated rad support in order to make everything fit. On another aspect of keeping the cool, the turbo piping is all thoroughly heat wrapped.
To deal with the resulting 579 hp and 658 lb-ft of torque at the wheels (recorded on a conservative Mustang dyno), the stock block was rebuilt with D.S.S. 8.8:1 pistons with valve reliefs for the Trick Flow Twisted Wedge heads. The rods are stock, but they're secured with ARP Wave-Loc fasteners. The cam is also stock, but it operates through Trick Flow 1.7:1 roller rockers. The old T5 is long gone, replaced by a D&D Performance T56 six-speed, feeding a rearend upgraded with Moser axles and carbon-fiber clutch packs in the otherwise stock Traction-Lok diff.
Resulting from Mega-Bite Jrs., Wild Rides torque-box reinforcements, boxed upper control arms, and an airbag in the right rear spring are 1.79-second 60-foot times. Though drag racing is low on its priority list, Maury's daily commuter has run 11.04 seconds at 129.2 mph, and that trap speed gives good indication of the little 306's Hoover Dam power output.
Since this is a daily driver-we keep mentioning that, don't we?-Maury paid attention to other critical areas such as an upgraded four-wheel disc-brake setup and a kick-butt sound system, some of which shares hatch room with the car's stainless steel, water/methanol injection storage tank. In other words, he sweated the details and continues to do so every winter once the car comes off the road.
In any event, Maury's impressive exercise was clearly worth the effort, as the end result is a quiet and tractable commuter. The car, with its current 3.27 gears (Maury is thinking of dropping to 3.08s), has the wonderful combination of reliable driveability and berserk throttle response that can break the sticky Nitto Drag Radials loose virtually at will, quite likely in every gear. Afterward, a pair of black tire tracks and the sound of excess boost purging through the Bosch blow-off valves are the only clues that something politically incorrect has been committed. That, and the smile on the author's face.
5.0 Tech Specs ENGINE AND DRIVETRAINDriveshaft BlockCustom aluminum StockRearend Bore8.8, Moser axles, aluminum 4.03girdle, 3.27 gears StrokeDifferential 3Traction-Lok w/ carbon-fiber Displacementclutch packs 306ci  CrankshaftELECTRONICS Stock, heat treatedEngine Management RodsStock Stock, w/ ARP Wave-Loc<STRONG>Ignition<STRONG> fastenersMSD 6AL-BTM, Jacobs Ultra Pistonscoil D.S.S.Gauges Compression RatioAuto Meter 8.8:1  CamshaftSUSPENSION AND CHASSIS StockFront Suspension Rocker ArmsK-member Trick Flow 1.7:1Stock Power AdderControl Arms Twin Garret T3 60/63Stock IntercoolerSprings Custom 8x22x3-inFRPP 'C' Boost CoolerStruts Custom methanol/waterStock injectionCaster/Camber HeadsStock Trick Flow, O-ringedBrakes IntakeSVO calipers, braided lines, '96 Edelbrock PerformerGT master cylinder Throttle BodyWheels 70mmStock Pony Mass AirTires Pro-M 3-in blow-throughBridgestone Potenza InjectorsRear Suspension 36-lb/hrSprings Fuel PumpFRPP 'C' 255-lph w/Kirban regulatorShocks HeadersShocks Custom; same w/ all turboControl Arms ductingBoxed upper/Mega-Bite Jr. ExhaustBrakes Dr. Gas X-shape crossover w/11.25-in. cross-drilled rotors, cats, DynoMax Super turboSVO calipers, braided lines mufflersWheels <STRONG>Transmission<STRONG>Stock Pony D&D T56Tires <STRONG>Clutch<STRONG>Nitto Drag Radial SPEC aluminum flywheel, Stage  3+ clutch 
Photo Gallery: 1989 Ford Mustang LX - Twin-Turbo Fox Rod - 5.0 Mustang & Super Fords Magazine (http://www.mustang50magazine.com/featuredvehicles/m5lp_0805_1989_ford_mustang_lx)
http://images.mustang50magazine.com/featuredvehicles/m5lp_0805_01_s+1989_ford_mustang_LX+burnout.jpghtt p://images.mustang50magazine.com/featuredvehicles/m5lp_0805_05_s+1989_ford_mustang_LX+engine.jpghttp ://images.mustang50magazine.com/featuredvehicles/m5lp_0805_04_s+1989_ford_mustang_LX+interior.jpght tp://images.mustang50magazine.com/featuredvehicles/m5lp_0805_06_s+1989_ford_mustang_LX+trunk.jpg
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http://images.mustang50magazine.com/featuredvehicles/m5lp_0805_01_z+1989_ford_mustang_LX+burnout.jpgHor se Sense: Maury's LX hatchback came with the optional GT high-back buckets. Sadly, these weren't available in the notchback. I lamented this fact when I ordered my own '89 LX notch.
A properly engineered turbo setup huffing into a Ford small-block is a wondrous thing. It provides all the boost anyone would ever want without parasitic drag, while acting as an effective upstream muffler to keep things discreet-or sneaky, depending on the intended mission profile. As a trackside photographer still in possession of some hearing, I've come to appreciate the near-silent launches of turbo drag 'Stangs. After riding shotgun in Maury Moynihan's oh-so-discreet '89 LX-with not just one, but a pair of horsepower hair dryers onboard-we're happy to report that his self-engineered setup not only hits with all the force of Thor's own hammer, but it's also well-mannered while stalking the pavement of southern Ontario in the role of Maury's daily summer driver.
Maury bought the Dark Shadow Blue hatchback new when he was a mere 18 years old. Like any good gearhead, he has since put it through many permutations of displacement and power adders, yet has steadfastly maintained its innocent outward appearance. Apparently, it's not innocent enough, as testosterone-induced early antics in the LX cost him a four-year license suspension. While those days of road-going insanity are now firmly behind him (we think), Maury is still obsessed with horsepower and good ol' torque. They're both available at the mere nudge of the throttle on his stoutly underpinned 306 ci engine, that is, of course, effectively expanded to much greater displacement by the hulking turbo duet.
Let's talk about those turbos and what it took to persuade them-along with a custom intercooler and its associated plumbing-to peacefully cohabitate with the bored and beefy small-block in the limited confines of a Fox engine bay. In brief, this exercise took: 1) Maury, 2) his small home garage, and 3) a lot of time and patience. He did all the duct/exhaust fabrication in support of the pair of Garrett T3 60/63s himself.
To keep things cool, he fitted a pair of 12-inch blow-through electric fans-one of the few blow-through setups we've ever seen on a Mustang-on a Ford Racing Performance Parts aluminum radiator, mounted on a slight angle to a custom, relocated rad support in order to make everything fit. On another aspect of keeping the cool, the turbo piping is all thoroughly heat wrapped.
To deal with the resulting 579 hp and 658 lb-ft of torque at the wheels (recorded on a conservative Mustang dyno), the stock block was rebuilt with D.S.S. 8.8:1 pistons with valve reliefs for the Trick Flow Twisted Wedge heads. The rods are stock, but they're secured with ARP Wave-Loc fasteners. The cam is also stock, but it operates through Trick Flow 1.7:1 roller rockers. The old T5 is long gone, replaced by a D&D Performance T56 six-speed, feeding a rearend upgraded with Moser axles and carbon-fiber clutch packs in the otherwise stock Traction-Lok diff.
Resulting from Mega-Bite Jrs., Wild Rides torque-box reinforcements, boxed upper control arms, and an airbag in the right rear spring are 1.79-second 60-foot times. Though drag racing is low on its priority list, Maury's daily commuter has run 11.04 seconds at 129.2 mph, and that trap speed gives good indication of the little 306's Hoover Dam power output.
Since this is a daily driver-we keep mentioning that, don't we?-Maury paid attention to other critical areas such as an upgraded four-wheel disc-brake setup and a kick-butt sound system, some of which shares hatch room with the car's stainless steel, water/methanol injection storage tank. In other words, he sweated the details and continues to do so every winter once the car comes off the road.
In any event, Maury's impressive exercise was clearly worth the effort, as the end result is a quiet and tractable commuter. The car, with its current 3.27 gears (Maury is thinking of dropping to 3.08s), has the wonderful combination of reliable driveability and berserk throttle response that can break the sticky Nitto Drag Radials loose virtually at will, quite likely in every gear. Afterward, a pair of black tire tracks and the sound of excess boost purging through the Bosch blow-off valves are the only clues that something politically incorrect has been committed. That, and the smile on the author's face.
5.0 Tech Specs ENGINE AND DRIVETRAINDriveshaft BlockCustom aluminum StockRearend Bore8.8, Moser axles, aluminum 4.03girdle, 3.27 gears StrokeDifferential 3Traction-Lok w/ carbon-fiber Displacementclutch packs 306ci  CrankshaftELECTRONICS Stock, heat treatedEngine Management RodsStock Stock, w/ ARP Wave-Loc<STRONG>Ignition<STRONG> fastenersMSD 6AL-BTM, Jacobs Ultra Pistonscoil D.S.S.Gauges Compression RatioAuto Meter 8.8:1  CamshaftSUSPENSION AND CHASSIS StockFront Suspension Rocker ArmsK-member Trick Flow 1.7:1Stock Power AdderControl Arms Twin Garret T3 60/63Stock IntercoolerSprings Custom 8x22x3-inFRPP 'C' Boost CoolerStruts Custom methanol/waterStock injectionCaster/Camber HeadsStock Trick Flow, O-ringedBrakes IntakeSVO calipers, braided lines, '96 Edelbrock PerformerGT master cylinder Throttle BodyWheels 70mmStock Pony Mass AirTires Pro-M 3-in blow-throughBridgestone Potenza InjectorsRear Suspension 36-lb/hrSprings Fuel PumpFRPP 'C' 255-lph w/Kirban regulatorShocks HeadersShocks Custom; same w/ all turboControl Arms ductingBoxed upper/Mega-Bite Jr. ExhaustBrakes Dr. Gas X-shape crossover w/11.25-in. cross-drilled rotors, cats, DynoMax Super turboSVO calipers, braided lines mufflersWheels <STRONG>Transmission<STRONG>Stock Pony D&D T56Tires <STRONG>Clutch<STRONG>Nitto Drag Radial SPEC aluminum flywheel, Stage  3+ clutch 
Photo Gallery: 1989 Ford Mustang LX - Twin-Turbo Fox Rod - 5.0 Mustang & Super Fords Magazine (http://www.mustang50magazine.com/featuredvehicles/m5lp_0805_1989_ford_mustang_lx)
http://images.mustang50magazine.com/featuredvehicles/m5lp_0805_01_s+1989_ford_mustang_LX+burnout.jpghtt p://images.mustang50magazine.com/featuredvehicles/m5lp_0805_05_s+1989_ford_mustang_LX+engine.jpghttp ://images.mustang50magazine.com/featuredvehicles/m5lp_0805_04_s+1989_ford_mustang_LX+interior.jpght tp://images.mustang50magazine.com/featuredvehicles/m5lp_0805_06_s+1989_ford_mustang_LX+trunk.jpg
Read More (http://www.mustang50magazine.com/featuredvehicles/m5lp_0805_1989_ford_mustang_lx) | Digg It (http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://www.mustang50magazine.com/featuredvehicles/m5lp_0805_1989_ford_mustang_lx&title=1989 Ford Mustang LX - Dark Shadow Boost) | Add to del.icio.us (http://del.icio.us/post?url=2&url=http://www.mustang50magazine.com/featuredvehicles/m5lp_0805_1989_ford_mustang_lx&title=1989 Ford Mustang LX - Dark Shadow Boost)
Full Story... (http://www.mustang50magazine.com/featuredvehicles/m5lp_0805_1989_ford_mustang_lx)